Apparatus for casting metals



3 Sheets-Sheet l w. F. EPPENSTEINER ET AL APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS Filed March 26, 1928 INVENTORS M1] 5 Attorneys,

Feb. 25, 11930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 By A ltomeys,

Filed March 26, 1928 W. F. EPPENSTEINER ET AL APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS Feb. 25, 1930.

, Feb. 25,1930. w. F. EPPENSTEINER El AL APPARATUS FOR CASTING METALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill l l I I l l lllllllllllllllll l I I l 4 l I I! Filed March 26, 1928 I IVENTORS: M?

By Atiomeys,

I Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT op E. EmrENsTEmEn, 0E NEW JERSEY, 'assrcnons To RAnwAY, AND HENRY m. GREEN, 0E oAnTEnET, v UNITED STATES METALS REFINING comm,

OAB'IEBET, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION on NEW or JERSEY APPARATUS FOR QASTING METALS Application filed March 2c, 1928. Serial No. 264,580.

I This invention provides improved appare tus for castingmetals, being peculiarly adapted for the casting of copper or like metals according to the process set forth in another 5 application executed by us, Serial No.

253,825, filed February 13, 1928. According to that method the copper is castinto an upright mold having parallel or very nearly parallel inner walls to form a flat cake suitable for subsequent rolling. lhe mold is water-jacketed and water (or other cooling medium) is circulated through such jacket in such manner as to so effective- 1y cool the innerwalls of the mold "as to rapidly chill the copper and cause it to contract and thereby free itself from the walls of the mold. The moldhas. a bottom opening closed by a removable bottom or door through which the cast cake is discharged so that it falls out downwardly and may be received into a water bath for further cooling. This method produces an elongated flat cake which is parallel or very nearly so from side to side and from end to end, so that the difiiculty usually encountered in rolling wedge cakes or the ordinary end-poured cakes, is avoided. The main advantage of this method is that the oxidation is confined to the up or end of the cake, which alone is exposed to the atmosphere and which, being of'the smallest area, diminishes the oxidized surface portion to the minimum; and being at an end-of the cake, which is rolled down endwise, appears only in one end of the rolled sheet which is readlly removable by shearing off in the usual manner. The method r0 ferred to thus facilitates the production of sheet copper and economizes its cost.

The present invention provides apparatus eculiarly adapted to the casting of-co'pper y the method referred to. A plurality of such upright molds is employed, the molds 5 being mounted upon any suitable carrier, such as a revolving wheel uously or intermittently. In the casting position on one sidev of the wheel the molds receive the molten metal; while passing 7 around toward the opposite side the cast metal is solidified and chilled; on reachingthe contained cast cake is dropped out.

ent liquid) through the jackets of the molds or turntable, and moved either contin-.

opposite side (or any position suitably removed so as to continue the cooling for the required time) the mold is opened and Tits e empty molds are then returned to the casting position, and during the interval of time while the molds are thus returning they are cooled and putin readiness for the next castin Means are provided for the proper. cirtion of cooling water (pr other conveniand for regulating the temperature of the Water so as to introduce it into the water jackets at that temperature which gives the the best result. q p 1 The accompanying drawings show the preferred form of the apparatus.

Figure 1 is a sidellelevation of the ing machine, partly i section.

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation forming a continuation of Fig. 1 and showing a suitable means for feeding the cooling water at a prescribed regulated temperature.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mold on a lailjger scale, partly in section.

f ig. 5 is a vertical transverse section there- 0 Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a different construction of mold.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the mold shown in ig. 8 is-a plan' thereof. 1 Referring to the drawings,-A A designate a series of molds carried by any suitable carrier B which is conveniently constructed as a revolving wheel or turntable, as shown. The molds are equidistantly arranged, so that after after each casting operation the wheel turns an an lar distance from one castmold to the next; t is may be done by hand.

or by any suitable automatic mechanism. For casting, any usual ladle C may be provided, which when filled with molten copper may be tilted to run the copper into the mold which is in the casting position. It is preferable to locate the ladlev close to a. pouring spout or tap D leading from a furnace in which the copper is fused. lhe molds may have only one cavity for casting a single cake, or (especially iort-hinner icakes) the molds may have a plurality of cavities, in

which case the ladle should have a correboth cavities. For this, the mold may be sponding number'of outs. In Fig. 2 the molds are shown as dou 1e molds, that is, with two cavities for casting two cakes together; and for this purpose the ladle is formed with a double spout'to simultaneously pour into stationary during pouring, or if the carrier moves, continuously, the ladle may travel with it while pouring and then return under the tap D to receive its next'charg'e. Each mold is'formed with awater jacket E and with an opening at the bottom closed by a trap door or other removable bottomi'closu're F which also may be water-jacketed. This door may be conveniently "held closed by a hinged 100 or bail G engaging a wedging under sur ace formed beneath the door. Water is introduced into each jacket through a lower inlet pipe a, and is discharged therefrom through an upper pipe I). As these.

pipes revolve'withthe turntable, they are all connected .to annular pipes H, I. The pipe H receives water from a pipe J, and the pipe I discharges waterinto a pipe K, by which it is carried away. 'To provide for the rotation of the table the pipes J and K are each arranged with a POItIOI I'COiIlCldiIIg with the central axis of rotation,this portion includ-' ing a swivel connection L for the pipe J, and

L forthe, pipe K, these swivel connections being formed as" stufiin'g boxes to make leaktight' connections, 'It isapparent that on introducing water through-pipe 'J into the annular pipe H, it will flowtherefrom through the branch pipes a'into the mold jackets and will flow out from the latter through the branch pipes 6 into the annular pipe I, and from this will bedischarged through'the return pipe K. Thus water is circulated simultaneously through the ja k t of all the molds.

As shown, the molds receive the moltencopper on one side of the wheel and discharge the solidified and chilled cakes on the diametrically opposite side. This is a suit-.

- cooled by the water. Some means should be provided for removing these cakes fromthe water bath, and for this purpose a belt or chain conveyor N may conveniently be applied. It may readily be constructed of end-'v less chains carried over pulleys c d and hav- V maintaining the water in the tank P at the ing cross-bars e and f for carrying the cakes up the inclmed plane which the emerging away, the cakes. ried oii immediately, or at any convenient portion of the conveyor assumes. The cakes can be dropped from the pulley (2 onto any suitable means (not shown) 7 for carrying The cakes will thus be cartime, for subsequent treatment.

It is important for the best carrying out of the method that the moldsbe kept at a uniform temperature, which is best accomplished by regulating the temperature of the entering water. This is the function of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. This apparatus comprises a closed tank P resembling Y an ordinary boiler, with certain accessories.

The tank P is filled with water up to a de'- sired level. On starting the apparatus,

steam is admitted through a pipe Q, whereby initially to raise the water in the tank to the desired temperature. The pipe Q, is controlled by a valve Q, which may be a gravity check valve. A pipe J leads from the body of water in the tank and connects with the inlet pipe J of Fig. 2, a pump T being preferably interposed to insure circulation. Thus the water is carried to the pipe J, which establishes a continuousflow through-the intervention of the stufling box with the por tion of this pipe mounted on the carrier and connected with the distributing pipe H From the pipe I of the carrierthe return flow takes place through the pipe K, and by the intervention of its stufiing boxL to the stationary portion of this pipe, which in higher temperature than the outflowing water, so that once the operation has "been started, the steam inlet valve Q is closed. The temperature, which may exceed the normal boiling point of water," may be regulated by controlling the pressure in the tank P. For thisv purpose the outlet pipe Z by which excess steam is discharged, is provvided with an adjustable relief valve R which may be set to'pass ofi the steam at any desired pressure, and thereby to determine the temperature which is maintained within the manually closed by its handle, when the apparatus is to be shut down. To protect the tank P :a ainst accidentally excessive pressure, a sa ety valve U is desirably provided,

' Some suitable means must be provided for desired level. For this purpose any suitable g tank. The steam may be conducted to any desired place for its utilization. By makamass:

lator V may be provided, as, for example, the one shown in Fig. 3, and which is so well understood as to require no description.

It controls an inlet valve W in the water feed pipe S, through which water under a pressure exceeding that in the tank P is introduced in suificlent quantities to maintain the normal water level 42-42 in the tank. It resultsfrom the operation of this heatg in'g apparatus that the water is circulated at a substantially uniform temperature by the pump T through the annular inlet pipe or manifold H and branch pipes a to the various mold jackets; in these ackets the water is heated to a higher temperature by the heat given out from the metal being cast;- the water thus re-heated is discharged from the jackets through pipes. 12 and re-collected in the annular pipe I and returned to the hotwater tank, the excess steam being blown off through relief valve R. 4 I

It has been found by experience that the best results are attained by heating the water to such temperature that when it enters the molds it will be between 212 and 270 degrees F.

The water-jacketed molds A may be variously constructed. Two suitable constructions are .shown. The one shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will be first described.

The mold has an inner shell g forming a mold cavity, and an outer shell 7!. united by top and bottom members i and j. The water jacket E is subdivided by partitions k k,

I which in this construction extend transversely and are formed with perforations l for permitting the water to circulate'upward from one compartment of the water jacket.

to the next. These several elements are best constructed of wrought iron or steel and welded together, preferably by electric welding. To make a strong union, so that the outer shell 11. will resist the internal pressure due to. the circulating water being under pressure, it is preferable to form the parti-,

tions is with lugs m (Fig. 4) which ass through coinciding holes 1nthe outer s ell and are united by a welded joint. This construction makes a very strong mold capable of withstanding heavy internal ressure, and one in which the circulation of cooling water through the jacket is so diffused by means of the perforations Z that a ve uniform circulation is maintained. The trap door orbottom F is shown solid or without holdthe bottom closed for casting, a swinging bail or heavy strap p is, prov1ded, being hung upon ivot pins or studs 9 attached to opposite sidiss of the mold; the lower part of the bail p engages ribs 7* r formed on the under side of the bottom door F, and having v an arc-shaped surface eccentric to the arc of travel of the upper edge of the lower member of the 'bail, so that as the bail swings under the door a wedging action occurs, whereby the door is forced upward to a tight seat; in practice, engagement is made tight by a blow with a hammer. For dumping, a b. w on the bail to drive it to the right in Fig. throws it back and releases the trap dolpr, which falls open and dumps the cast ca e.

Another construction of mold is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Here, also the mold has an inner wall 9 and an outer wall 71., with top 2' and bottom 9', as before, and also has interstead of dividing the water jacketE into compartments, they are arranged with a gradual upward incline forming a spiral, whereby the water jacket constitutes a continuous spiral channel'leadin from the inlet a at the bottomto the outlet at the top. It results that the cooler water enterin at the bottom circulates in a spiral or attened helical path around the, inner wall ofthe -mold, being gradually heated asits flows,

and being discharged at its highest temperatures from the outlet b. Preferably the in- .let a is applied at one side, asshown in Fig.

7, so as to discharge the water unobstructedl into one flat side of the water jacket, an the outlet 6 is applied at the opposite side, as, shown. Preferably in both mold constructions the inlet and outlet pipes a, 6 point in the samedirection for convenience in connecting with the annular pipes H, I, shown in Fig. 1. In the construction shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the parts 9, h, i, j, and is, may be built up and united by welding, as described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, or they may be cast, or partly cast and partly welded. A suitable mode of construction is to form the inner shell gin one piece, and the outer shell 7:. in another, the top i being formed on either, and the bottom 7' on the other; the partitions k in such case will be formed as ribs projecting'from the inner shell 9. Then the outer shell may be'slipped over the inner shell and a tight jolnt made by weld ing at top and bottom, but without necesarily forming-a water-tight weld or joint between the outer edges of the partitions or ribs 10: and the inner face of the outer shell, since a slight leakage from one convolution of. the

ipiral channel to the next. is unim ortant. t

is, however, desirable to stren en the outer shell k on-its flat sides to ma le it better to resist the internal pressure, by forming occasional welds uniting it to the outer edges of the ribs 7:, these being indicated at u u in Fig. 6. These serve the same purpose as the elements m in Fig. 4. The 'tra F is here shown as a solid casting as efore (although it might be water-jacketed), and the hinges m are shown with one member cast integrally on the door, and' the other member applied by. casting or welding to the w outer side of the mold. Here again the same fastening for the bottom door is shown, consisting of a'bail p hung on pins and engaging ribs 1" having curved wa ging lower door ing the water the at airedetermined pressure comprising a blow-o able to discharge fluid-at varying pressures.

of a hinged trap door and a swinging be for holding it c osed, having a we ging engagement with the under side of the door.

valve adjust,

754A wateracketed"mo1d arranged vertically and having a bottom closure conslstmg In witness whereof, we have; hereunto signed our names. WILLIAM HENRY GREEN.

faces. Either construction of. mold may be supported by means of rolled members 8, t, forming part of therevolving carrier or turntable B in Fig. 1.

The describedapparatus may he used for casting not only copper, but various other less analogous to those of copper.

The mold may be further modified accordmetals and alloys having properties more or ing" to the construction shown in Fig.' of

our application No. 253,825, filed February 13, 1928, and as describedin the specification of that application.

We claim as our invention:

1. An apparatus for casting metal comprising an endless carrier and succession of so jacketed molds carried thereby, the carrier formed as a'turntable, annular inlet and return pipes carried thereby having branches leading to the jackets of the respective molds,

and supply and return pipes connected respectively to said annular pipes and located at the axial center around which the turn- 7 table turns, and there provided with swivel" connections between the stationary and rotative ortions of said pi es.

2. The combination with prising jacketed molds, of a water tank and means for maintaining the water therein ata predetermined temperature, and-means for conducting such water to the respective mold jackets. r

3. The combination with apparatus comapparatus cornprising jacketed molds, oi a hot water tank 9 and means for maintaining the water therein at a predetermined pressure, and means for conducting such water to the respective mold 'ackets. v

he combination with apparatus according to claim 3, of means for maintaining the water insuch tank at a predetermined to to maintain a uniform leveli therein.

pressure, and means for feeding water there-v.

The combination with apparatus according to claim 2, the means for maintaining a predetermined temperature comprising apparatus so" orinaintain...

a steam-inlet pipe to said tank, and a check- F. EPPENSTEINERL 

